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The 


Sw^iss  Army 
System 

by 
CAPTAIN  REMY  FAESCH 

22NO  INFANTRY  REGIMENT  OF  THE  SWISS  ARMY 


G.  E.  STECHERT  &  CO. 

151-155  West  25TH  St., 

NEW  YORK. 

1916. 


Copyright,.  1916 
by 
G.    E.    Stechert   &    Co., 
New    York   City 


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PRICE   25   CENTS 


Since  the  great  movement  for  preparedness  has  set  in 
in  this  country  and  since  the  question  has  arisen  as  to 
which  of  the  European  miUtary  systems,  if  any  at  all, 
the  United  States  should  adept,  considerable  attention 
has  been  given  to  the  compulsory  system  of  the  Swiss 
Federal  Army. 

Swiss  History. 

Some  facts  of  Swiss  history  may  explain  how  the 
military  spirit  has  developed  and  has  always  been  kept 
up  in  that  little  Republic,  and  that  the  actual  state  of 
preparedness  is  partly  the  result  of  that  military  spirit 
of  the  Swiss  population. 

The  foundation  of  Switzerland  dates  from  the  ist  of 
August  1 29 1,  when  those  farmers  and  huntsmen  round 
the  Lake  of  Lucerne  assembled  on  the  ''Riitli"  and  after 
deliberation  took  a  solemn  oath  to  defend  one  another 
and  to  destroy  those  tyrants  which  Austria  had  sent  to 
subdue  the  country. 

ALREADY  IN  THOSE  DAYS  GENERAL  CON- 
SCRIPTION FORMED  A  BASIS  AND  WAS  A 
PRINCIPLE  OF  THE  SWISS  MILITARY  SYS- 
TEM. 

It  was  a  matter  of  course  to  the  Swiss  people  that 
every  able  bodied  man  or  boy  should  defend  his  country. 

For  the  next  few  hundred  years  we  find  the  Swiss 
continuously  fighting  for  independence  against  almost 
every  power  m  Europe.  The  Swiss  Regiments  became 
quite  famous  and  when  there  was  nothing  to  fight  for 
at  home,  they  sold  their  sword  abroad.  We  find  Swiss 
Regiments  fighting  with  the  armies  of  Philipp  II,  Fran- 
cis I,  and  Charles  V.  During  the  terrible  struggle  of  the 
French  Revolution  in  1792  the  famous  ''Red  Swiss,"  a 
Regiment  of  body  guards  of  Louis  XVI,  were  entirely 
annihilated  in  the  garden  of  the  Tuilleries  by  the  blood- 
thirsty mob  of  Paris. 

Today,  in  the  great  European  tragedy   the  Swiss  army 

343706 


CADKT  CORPS 


INFANTRY  IN  TRENCHES 
2 


plays  an  important  part  in  effectually  securing  the  left 
wing  of  the  German  and  the  right  wing  of  the  French 
Army.  The  outflanking  of  their  opponents  by  means 
of  a  short  cut  across  Swiss  territory  must  have  appeared 
a  tempting  prospect  to  one  or  the  other  of  the  great 
military  powers. 

That  is  why  the  Swiss  men  are  still  under  arms.  On 
the  slopes  of  the  Jura  hills,  as  well  as  in  the  concreted 
trenches  facing  Alsace-Lorraine  and  France  and  on  the 
lofty  passes  of  the  Alps  looking  down  on  the  Italian 
plains,  the  Swiss  soldier  is  watching  and  waiting  and 
will  continue  to  do  so  until  peace  dawns. 

G-eneral  Information. 

Switzerland  is  a  Confederation  of  22  Cantons  (States) 
69  per  cent,  of  the  inhabitants  speaking  German,  22  per 
cent,  speaking  French,  7  per  cent,  speaking  Italian  and 
2  per  cent,  speaking  Rhaeto-Romanish. 

The  Swiss  Republic  is  governed  by  a  Federal  Council 
of  seven  members,  elected  for  3  years  by  the  Federal 
Assembly.,  They  are  almost  always  re-elected,  a  fact 
which  tends  to  make  the  Swiss  Government  a  stable  and 
permanent  one. 

One  of  the  7  members  is  designated  by  the  Federal 
Assembly  to  exercise  the  functions  of  a  President  of  the 
Szviss  Confederation. 

The  Federal  Assembly  consists  of  two  houses : 

(i)  the  National  Council,  (National-Rat)  which  is 
made  up  of  one  representative  for  every  20poo  inhabi- 
tants;  and 

(2)  the  State  Council,  (Stacnde-Rat),  made  up  of  two 
representatives   for  every   State : 

A  total  of  about  250  representatives. 

The  Swiss  people  have  the  right  of  referendum, — any 
legislative  act  passed  by  the  Assembly  may  be  subjected 
to  recall  by  popular  vote  on  the  demand  of  30,000  citi- 
zens. 

The  total   National  Expenditure   for   191 3,  the  ''bud- 


get,'^  amounted  to  $20,000,000  of  which  $9,000,000  was 
for  the  army. 

The  Swiss  Military  Organization  Laws  actually  in 
force  date  from  the  year  1850  and  were  revised  in  1874 
after  the  experiences  of  the  Franco-Prussian  war  of 
1870-71.     They  were  perfected  again  in  1905- 1906. 

Military  Duties  of  the  Swiss  Citizen  and  the 
Communities. 

Their  duties  are  far  greater  than  those  demanded  by 
the  authorities  of  any  other  nation.  They  comprise  the 
following : 

1st.  Every  Swiss  citizen  living  in  Switzerland  or 
abroad  has  to  do  MILITARY  SERVICE,  or,  if  not  able 
bodied,  to  pay  the  MILITARY  TAX.  (In  Belgium 
only  the  eldest  son  does  military  service,  his  brothers 
being  exempt.) 

This  military  tax  must  not  be  confounded  with  the 
privilege  of  redemption  from  military  service  (in  Spain 
a  man  may  buy  his  freedom  by  paying  1500  Pesetas). 

The  yearly  military  tax  amounts  to: 

$1.25  a  head, 

I   1/2  per  cent,  of  own  income, 

I  1/2  per  mille  of  parents'  personal  and  real  property, 
divided  by  the  number  of  children. 

This  tax  has  to  be  paid  until  the  men  have  reached 
the  age  of  forty  years. 

2nd.  Every  soldier  of  the  Swiss  Army  can  be  forced 
to  become  a  non-commissioned  officer  or  an  officer,  to 
accept  any  command  with  which  he  is  entrusted  by  the 
military  authorities  and  to  perform  the  necessary  mili- 
tary service  prescribed  by  the  law  for  the  attainment  of 
such  command.  (The  French  non-commissii)ned  officer 
or  officer  may  serve  as  a  private  at  any  tii^,  whenever 
he  may  choose  to  do  so.)  "% 

3rd.  Every  soldier  is  obliged  to  practice  target  shoot- 
ing during  the  year  when  he  is  not-  called  for  service. 


OBSERVATION   POST   IN   THE   JURA 

4th.  Every  soldier  is  obliged  to  keep  at  home  in  per- 
fect condition  his  uniform,  equipment  and  arms. 

Sth.  In  times  of  manoeuvres  the  Communities  are 
bound  to  hold  at  the  disposal  of  the  troops  the  necessary 
shelters  (rooms,  barns,  etc.)  for  ambulances  and  staff 
purposes  as  well  as  for  quartering  the  troops  and  horses. 

6th.  The  owners  of  land  are  bound  to  hold  their 
grounds  at  the  disposal  of  the  troops  when  wanted  for 


INFANTRY    COMPANY    READY    FOR    INSPECTION 


CYCLISTS   SHOOTING 


SWISS   HOWITZER 


CAVALRY   PATROL 


manoeuvres.     If  any  damage  is  done  to  their  property, 
they  are  recompensed. 

7th.  In  times  of  the  mobilization  of  the  Swiss  Army 
the  owners  of  automobiles  have  to  cede  their  machines 
and  gasoline  to  the  military  authorities  if  wanted ;  the 
horses  also  are  requisitioned. 

Training  of  the  Youth. 

Military  preparation  is  begun  long  before  the  boys 
have  reached  the  age  of  20  years.  Compulsory  gymna- 
sium drill  and  physical  training  without  arms  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  army  regulations  are  established  in  all 
the  schools  of  Switzerland,  which  everybody  has  to 
attend  from  7  to  15  years  of  age.     ' 

The  execution  of  exercises  by  whole  classes  simulta- 
neously, with  accuracy  and  snap,  teaches  discipline  and 
self  control. 

Hand  in  hand  with  this  training  in  the  schools  goes 
the  work  in  the  Cadet  Corps,  which  is  compulsory  in 
some  of  the  Cantons,  where  marching,  map  reading  and 
target  shooting  are  taught.  The  Cadet  rifle  is  a  minia- 
ture of  the  regular  Swiss  army  rifle. 

Whereas  an  average  of  from  4  to  8  hours  a  week  is 
spent  in  gymnasium  work  in  schools,  the  practice  time 
for  the  Cadets  amounts  to  about  100  to  200  hours  dur- 
ing the  summer.  The  average  Swiss  boy  is  anxious  to 
join  the  Cadet  Corps. 

After  the  boys  have  left  school,  voluntary  work  is  be- 
gun in  the  Military  Preparation  Companies,  established 
in  almost  every  village  and  town,  the  instruction  being 
given  by  officers  or  non-commissioned  officers,  for  boys 
between  15-20  years  of  age. 

The  benefit  derived  from  these  courses  as  Cadets,  ^or 
in  the  Military  preparation  sections,  is  of  great  advan- 
tage to  them  when  later  they  enter  the  Recruit  School. 

The  first  training — as  will  be  shown  later — which  the 
young  Swiss  soldier  gets,  is  very  brief.     If  despite  this 


fact  the  Swiss  military  authorities  are  able  to  make  good 
soldiers  out  of  the  boys  it  must  be  born  in  mind  that 
it  is  due  to  the  very  carefully  worked  out  system  of 
physical  development  and  military  education  for  the 
Swiss  boys  between  7  and  20  years  of  age. 

THE  PHYSICAL  ANiD  MILITARY  PREPARA- 
TION. OF  THE  SWISS  YOUTH  IS  AN  ESSEN- 
TIAL PART  OF  THE  SWISS  MILITARY  SYS- 
TEM. 

Enrollment  and  Recruit  School. 

On  account  of  the  short  time  the  Szviss  soldier  has  to 
serve,  the  Military  authorities  make  it  a  principle  to  use 
as  much  as  possible  the  knowledge  zvhich  the  boys  have 
acquired  in  civil  life. 

Sons  of  farmers,  for  instance,  are  enrolled  into  the 
Cavalry;  mechanics,  carpenters  and  men  of  sittjilar  pro- 
fession become  members  of  the  Engineering  Corps  or  the 
Artillery;  students  of  Technology  become  future  offi- 
cers in  the  former  Corps  and  medical  students  in  the 
x\mbulance  Corps. 

When  20  years  old,  the  young  man  receives  his  arm's 
and  equipment,  which  he  always  keeps  at  home  in  good 
condition,  ready  for  instant  mobilization. 

He  now  enters  into  a  Recruit  School,  a  training  which 
varies  from  60  to  90  days,  according  to  the  branch  of 
service. 

Hard  work  is  done  in  these  Recruit  Schools ;  each  day, 
except  Sunday,  means  8-9  hours  of  drill  and  instruction. 

After  having  accomplished  their  work  in  the  Re- 
cruit School  the  boys  are  trained  soldiers,  are  enlisted 
in  the  Regiments  or  Batteries  of  their  home  town  or 
village  and  serve  their  country  until  their  48th  year.  If 
they  become  officers  they  serve  until  they  are  52. 

The  Three  Classes. 

It  is  only  natural  that  the  young  soldier  who  is  more 
active  and  mobile  should  do  more  service  than  the  older 


INFANTRY    ON    SKIS,    SHARP    STTOOTINC; 


ARTJLLKRY    STAFF,    FIXING    DISTANCES 


10 


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ARTILLERY    STAFF,    DIRECTING    GUN    FIRE 


SWISS    ARTILLERY    ARMORY 
11 


one.  The  Swiss  military  forces  are  therefore  divided 
into  3  classes  automatically  passing  from  one  class  into 
the  other  according  to  their  age. 

I.)  The  1ST  Class  (Aiiszug) 
is  made  up  of  men  who  serve  2  zveelcs  every  year  from 
their  20th  to  their  32nd  year. 

These  men  form  our  ''Elite."  They  are  young  and 
energetic,  their  bodies -are  strong  and  their  muscles  flex- 
ible. They  are  able  to  march  with  a  heavy  haversack 
on  their  back  (the  Swiss  haversack  is  the  heaviest  of  all 
army  haversacks;  about  72  lbs),  and  to  climb  hills 
without  losing  breath.  Camping  out  and  sleeping  on  a 
bunch  of  straw  does  not  hurt  them.  Long  horse-back 
riding  on  a  restive  horse  is  the  young  Cavalryman's 
delight. 

2.)  The  2ND  Class  (Landwehr) 

is  made  up  of  men  from  33  to  40  years.  They  are  called 
in  for  2  weeks  every  ^rd  year. 

They  are  less  mobile  than  the  men  in  the  ist  Class  but 
steadier,  more  mature  and  very  keen  in  fulfilling  their 
duties.  They  are  not  very  good  marchers  to  begin  with, 
being  accustomed  in  most  cases  to  trolley  cars  and  auto- 
mobiles as  means  of  locomotion,  but  after  a  brief  training 
they  become  almost  as  good  in  this  respect  as  the  men 
of  the  1st  Class. 

3.)   The  3RD  Class  (Landsturm) 

is  made  up  of  men  of  from  41  to  48  years.  They  are 
not  called  into  service  during  ordinary  times. 

They  are  no  longer  able  to  run  over  the  fields  and 
march  long  distances  in  deep  columns,  but  they  have 
lived  with  their  rifles  for  twenty  years,  their  eyes  are 
still  sharp  and  they  know  every  footpath  and  every  rock 
in  the  country.  These  Landsturm  Sections  are  the  very 
men  wanted  to  protect  the  Swiss  Railroad  Stations,  tun- 
nels and  bridges,  the  Alpine  roads  and  great  passes, 
baggage  columns,  electric  central  power  stations  and 
gun  powder  factories.     They  form  the  TERRITORIAL 

12 


ARMY,  whereas  the  first  and  second  classes  form  the 
FIELD  ARMY. 

There  is  still  another  class,  the  non-armed  Landstrum 
This  class  comprises  all  those  physically  unfit  as  well  as 
those  volunteers  who  have  not  reached  the  necessary  age 
or  who  are  older  than  the  law  prescribes.  According  to 
their  profession  or  abilities  they  have  to  help  wherever 
they  are  needed  (as  bakers,  butchers,  typists  in  staff  of- 
fices, in  ammunition  factories,  etc.) 

How  Does  Switzerland  Procure  Her  Officers 
and  Non- Commissioned  Officers? 

Corporals.  Men  who  excel  in  their  military  duties 
during  their  recruit  school  days  are  directed  the  follow- 
ing year  to  attend  a  school  of  non-commissioned  officers. 
They  are  put  through  a  grilling  course  of  instruction  of 
30  days,  calculated  not  only  to  teach,  but  to  try  out  the 
metal  of  the  man.  After  having  successfully  passed  this 
test  they  become  Corporals.  Every  Corporal  is  again 
obliged  to  go  through  a  recruit  school  immediately  fol- 
lowing these  30  days,  where  he  is  made  chief  of  his 
squad. 

He  may  become  a  Sergeant  and  later  on  a  Sergeant 
Major  after  from  2-4  periods  of  manoeuvres  with  his 
unit  and  after  having  received  the  training  of  one  or 
two  more  recruit  schools  in  the  capacity  of  Sergeant  or 
Sergeant  Major. 

Lieutenant.  The  Corporals  are  very  closely 
watched  and  those  who  by  their  general  education  and 
character  as  "  well  as  by  their  military  ability  seem 
worthy  to  become  officers,  are  called  into  an  Aspirant 
School  of  80  days  for  infantry,  105  days  for  cavalry  and 
artillery.  During  these  three  months  the  future  officer 
has  to  acquire  all  the  knowledge,  theoretical  and  practi- 
cal, necessary   for  taking  a  position  as  a  superior. 

The  future  officer  is  taught  to  bear  in  mind  that  his 
inferiors  will  always  be  critically  observing  him ;  his  per- 
is 


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14 


CAPTIVE    BALLOON 
15 


ception  of  duty  has  therefore  to  be  sharpened.  To  be- 
come an  officer  in  the  Swiss  Army  is  not  only  a  matter 
of  knowledge  but  still  more  one  of  character. 

After  successfully  passing  the  requirements  of  the  As- 
pirant School,  the  candidate  is  appointed  a  Lieutenant  in 
the  Swiss  Army.  While  in  this  grade  he  is  obliged  the 
following  year  to  attend  a  recruit  school  where  he  is 
responsible    for    his    platoon. 

A  Lieutenant  has  to  serve  at  least  4  years  before  he 
is  made  First  Lieutenant. 

Captains.  First  Lieutenants  are  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Captain  for  merit  only  and  not  in  consideration 
of  their  age.  They  must  have  served  as  First  Lieuten- 
ants for  4  years  and  shown  capacity  in  instructing  re- 
cruits in  another  recruit  school. 

Officers  of  higher  rank  have  to  serve  frequently 
and  those  who  become  officers  of  the  Gencrai  Staff  in 
particular  must  always  be  ready '  to  take  part  in  man- 
oeuvres, in  schools  of  the  special  arms  or  to  work  in 
the  offices  of  the  General  Staff  at  Bern  for  several 
weeks. 

There  are  only  about  250  professional  officers  in  the 
Swiss  Army.  They  assist  in  the  recruit  schools  as  in- 
instructors  and  serve  especially  as  professors  in  the  so 
called  Central  Schools  for  higher  officers.  Some  of 
them  command  Brigades,  Divisions  or  Army  Corps. 

General.  Switzerland  has  no  Generals  in  times  of 
peace.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  Swiss  Army  m.obilizes, 
the  Federal  Assembly  designates  a  General  from  among 
the  commanders  of  Divisions  and  Army  Corps. 

He  disposes  of  all  our  military  forces  as  well  as  of 
the  economical  and  financial  resources  of  the  country. 
According  to  Swiss  law,  in  times  of  war  one  man  is 
honored  and  burdened  with  the  entire  responsibility.  Of 
course,  it  must  be  the  right  man ! 

No  political  influence  whatsoever  is  possible  in  the 
Swiss  Army  neither  for  becoming  an  officer  nor  for  ar- 
riving at  a  higher  grade. 

16 


>plus  2oc=fr.  I. — for  food. 


Pay. 

All  members  of  the  Swiss  Army,  officers  and  men  are 
paid  a  salary  while  serving.  The  following  are  the  rates 
of  pay  per  day,  food  and  board  not  being  included  in  the 
rates  for  officers : 

General  $io. — 

Commander  of  Divi- 
sion 6. — 

Commander  of  Bri- 
gade .       S- — 

Major  2.40 

Captain  2. — 

Lieutenant  1.40 

Corporal  —.30  \ 

p  .  _    X-  ?  m  addition  to   quarters 

o^         .._       (      and  meals. 
=80  centimes  / 

The  mounted  officers  receive  in  addition  $0.75  to  $1.25 
a  day,  equivalent  to  the  cost  of  hiring  their  mounts. 

Horses. 

In  times  of  war  the  horses  to  be  used  for  the  Aiallery 
and  Train  are  requisitioned.  In  times  of  peace  they  are 
hired  for  the  period  of  the  manoeuvres  only. 

As  to  the  Cavalry  horses,  the  Swiss  system  is  unique. 
The  Military  authorities  provide  the  necessary  mounts 
for  which  the  young  cavalry  recruit  pays  the  Govern- 
ment. Every  year,  however,  i/io  of  this  price  is  refund- 
ed so  that  after  the  expiration  of  10  years  the  mount  be- 
comes the  man's  own  property. 

The  result  of  this  regulation  is  excellent.  The  men, 
after  having  completed  their  Recruit  School  training  take 
their  mounts  home  and  use  them  for  agricultural  or  oth- 
er purposes  all  the  year  ro:md.  They  treat  and  feed  and 
stable  their  horses  well  and  appear  at  the  yearly  period 
of  two  weeks'  manoeuvres  with  a  mount  in  perfect  con- 
dition. 

17 


AMBULANCE    CORPS 


MULES   ON    A    GLACIER 

18 


TRANSPORTING    HEAVY    ARTILLERY 


^^^^^HPI^e^^Tr^ 

■^fcj^ 

OPTIC   SIGNALLING 
19 


The  chief  of  the  squadron  exercises  a  certain  control 
over  the  mounts  during  the  year.  Every  horse  is  in- 
sured. 

Military  Duties  of  the  Swiss  Citizen  When 
Not  Serving  and  During  Winter  Time. 

Every  man  has  to  fire  about  sixty  shots  a  year  with  a 
fixed  minimum  of  points.  If  he  misses  the  term  he  is 
called  in  for  three  days  v^ithout  pay. 

The  non-commissioned  officers  attend  lectures  and 
make  excursions  combined  with  target  shooting  at  dis- 
tances not  known  to  them  beforehand. 

The  officers  attend  lectures.  War  games  without 
troops,  directed  by  an  officer  of  the  general  staff,  take 
place.  Horse  riding  on  horses  provided  by  the  military 
authorities  is  practiced,  and  night  patrols  for  Lieuten- 
ants  are   arranged. 


Confederation  and  Cantons  (States). 

The  Szviss  Army  is  a  National  Force. 

One  member  of  the  Swiss  Federal  Council  is  the  Chief 
of  the  Swiss  Military  Department.     He  directs  military 
matters,  aided  by  the   Chief  of  the  General   Staff,  the ' 
Chiefs  of  the  Infantry,  Artillery,  Cavalry,  Engineers  and 
other  high  officers  and  functionaries. 

The  Cantons  have  to  provide  for  the  equipment  (not 
the  arms)  of  their  contingents.  The  armories  belonging 
to  the  Cantons  are  used  for  the  storrge  of  reserve  ma- 
terial. Armories  owned  by  the  Confederation  are  gen- 
erally used  for  the  artillery  and  special  arms. 

The  Cantons  have  the  right  to  appoint  the  officers  of 
their  Infantry  units  up  to  the  rank  of  Major  after  the 
Military  Departm^ent  or  the  respective  Commanders  have 
given  their  consent,  whereas  in  regard  to  Cavalry,  Ar- 
tillery and  Special  arms,  they  have  no  power  of  control. 

20 


In  case  of  strike  the  Cantons  haye  t^^  r^gM;  £o 'mobi- 
lize the  Infantry  units  located  in  their  district.'  '         '  '  ' 

The  ''Military  Director"  (similar  to  the  Adjutant 
General  in  the  United  States)  is  the  member  of  the  Can- 
tonal authorities  who  carries  out  the  orders  received  from 
the   Military   Department. 

The  Cantonal  authorities  collect  the  military  tax  for 
account  of  the  Confederation. 

Size  of  the  Swiss  Army. 

In  proportion  to  the  size  of  her  territory  (about  16,000 
square  miles)  and  to  the  number  of  her  inhabitants 
(about  4,86o,ooc^  Switzerland  can  actually  put  on  foot 
the  biggest  army  in  the  world  (about  500,000  men.) 

This  army  can  be  mobilized  in  about  24  hours 

Discipline. 

The  discipline  in  the  Swiss  Army  is  very  strict.  The 
Swiss  Military  authorities  are  of  the  firm  opinion  that 
the  discipline  maintained  in  our  Republic  should  be 
equal  to  that  maintained  in  the  armies  of  the  big  military 
powers  of  Europe.  There  is  but  one  kind  of  discipline, 
the.  best.  It  has  to  be  taught.  Those  who  are  not  used  to 
it  in  times  of  peace  will  not  learn  it  in  times  of  danger. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  two  Dutch  Republics  of  South 
Africa  were  among  the  best  marksmen,  the  best  riders, 
the  best  scouts;  they  lacked  only  one  thing — discipline. 

Conclusion. 

General  Conscription  in  Szmtzerland  is  unanimously 
considered  to  he  a  blessing  for  the  population. 

Boys  who  never  saw  anything  but  their  mountain  vil- 
lage, who  have  never  been  away  from  mother,  who  are 
shy  and  not  polite,  sons  of  workmen  living  in  the  less 
healthy  parts  of  the  big  towns,  often  underfed,  nervous 

21 


and  pal,e  ,and  iii:i,t,us€cl  to  i.:old  water  and  soap,  change 
very  rapidly  after  d.  few  weeks  of  recruit  school  training. 
The  young  soldiers  are  taught  the  habit  of  speaking 
clearly,  of  being  tidy  and  polite.  In  business  they  be- 
come very  much  improved. 

Military  service  does,  of  course,  to  a  certain  extent, 
interfere  with  business  and  the  universities,  especially 
when  whole  divisions  are  called  in  and  20  to  30  per  cent, 
of  the  clerks  of  big  business  establishments  or  of  the 
students  are  in  the  field. 

Qerks  are  usually  paid  during  their  military  service 
and  use  their  vacation  for  the  purpose  But  the  sacrifice 
of  workmen  who  are  not  paid  while  sei-ving,  or  of 
doctors  and  lawyers  for  instance,  who  suffer  financial 
loss  through  being' absent  from  their  offices,  is  naturally 
considerable. 

The  Swiss,  however,  knows  that  it  cannot  be  helped. 
He  considers  this  sort  of  sacrifice  to  be  his  duty  for 
the  sake  of  his  country. 

Every  Szviss  is  proud  to  serve  and  to  wear  his  uni- 
form. 

General  conscription  and  service  for  a  short 
time  adds  enormously  to  the  feeling  of  Na- 
tional Unity.  It  is  the  best  education  for  citi- 
zenship, in  fact  it  is  the  most  thorough  train- 
ing for  life. 


•iZ 


PATROL   IN   THE   MOUNTAINS 


Mm 

,    •^'';v       '■'     J*W   *,.,.      ■     -        > 

DANGEROUS    CLIMBING 

23 


POST   IN   THE   ALPS 


24 


RETURN  CIRCUUVi^'^brory r^r-^^ 

R    IQ; 
U 

I     T 


202  ^Aai 
PERIOD 


FORMNO.DD6A.20m, 


^^r^^^'^'^'l' 


.r^LiruKNIA,  BERKELEY 
FORM  NOU-^>.,  ^urn,   1/83'        BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


(g)$ 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


,„  III 


'3rc 


M 


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>^^ 

